The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-04-27
The HOme-Heart.

Stay, stay at home, my heart, and
rest" The home-heart, what should we
do without it, when in the toll aud stress
and fever of life we meet moment,
when like a little child we hasten to be
folded close, so that we can hear each
strong beat of love for us? And yet
there are those who through every fibre
of their sensitive nature feel that there is
for them no home waiting as a sweet and
sacred refuge. There are lonely souls
who walk as strangers among their kim
bred, not from any will or wish of their
own, but simply because the impulses
of their souls can find no answering
rhythm in those whom they must name
the nearest by natural ties. Few of
these 90 on bearing their loneliness
without reaching out beyond the
family, feeling to find, if possible, a
something which shall satisfy their
craving for sympathy; blest are such
indeed if they feel, when missing the
human touch, that of the divine Hand,
promising in its thrilling warmth a
guidance to the all-embracing Heart.
The home that keeps no heart of deep,
inspiring sympathy for its loved ones is
home Onlyin name. Thousands have,
when sitting in the midst of luxury, by
the side of wives beautiful and accom-
plished, felt in their Utmost souls that
they had no home. After the days
toll, temptations and trials were over
how much would any of these have
given if they could without stint have
laid open their experience before
an adequate sympathy-a sympathy
that would have patience with weak
ness or failure, that would have discov-
cred for depression germ of hope in
seeming defeat, that would promise
love, protection and loyalty, though the
whole world should forsake, and would
glory in thus proving itself. Oh. if our
business men were sure of this home
heart would there be so many depart
ures from old-fashioned honesty as
now? Would there be such mad i'm
pulses to throw away the life as now?
The home-heart has always help for its
own; it has advice for perplexity, for
givness for sin and hope for despair.
1t has that something which is so I'M
explainable, but which, for want of a
better word, we call rest, to offer. There
was home down in Bethany where
One "who came to his own and his own
ICCtlNGu Hllu uOl lOulu lllC
heart. Much has been written of the
comparative merits of Mary and Martha,
the sisters in that home; many have
been the speculations with reference to
Christ's regard of their separate offices,
and of the relation of these to his COM
fort and happiness, yet do we not in
stinctively decide that he found in Mary
the home-heart which made the spot a
restful tarrying-place to him? Oh!
while the women of our day are open
ing their eyes to the possibilities that
seem to be unfolding before them are
they realizing as they should the awful
responsibility that is resting upon them
to fulfill themselves?-to fulfill them
selves according to an old-time fashion
that under the light of to-day's glare,
may seem very colorless, but fashion,
thank God, who in his wisdom made
woman complete in her womanliness,
having, as it were, a sex of soul, be-
ing toward whom man, in his upper
verted state, lifts eXpectant, reverent
eyes, exclaiming, as did the lover in
"The Princess" Look up, and let
thy nature strike on NINE" can never
be so outgrown that it will not have
followers that shall glorify their woman
hood and their homes by that sympathy
which shall be at once inspiration and
rest, to those who are to prove their
manliness before the world.
8" see the long procession
Still passing to and fro,
The young heart, hot and restless,
And the old, subdued and slowl'
AS the long line passes before my i'm
agination, as sit in the twilight, Won
der how many, after the days toll, will
meet the home-heart. -Christian at
| Work.